Our first foster child has come of age and rather than celebrating, we were informed that she would be leaving on her birthday which is also the expiry of the court order. It came as a shock and our first thoughts were of rejection. Did she not like it here at all?

As usual one of the girls (a 6 year old this time) proudly models a new piece of clothing for me, expecting like always to be told how pretty she looks wearing it. She pointed to the shoes, and I complimented her on the lovely boots.

The ringing of the phone immediately has both Christo and me awake. At 3h00 in the morning, it can only be bad news! When Christo hears the voice of the person on the other side, he still angrily asks: “Do you realise that it is three in the morning!?”

Willie, almost 7, and Mandla 9, have been staying with us since they were 2 and 4 years old. Both are clever, mischievous little boys. On a freezing winter afternoon, 5 years ago, we found Willie and his brother Mandla, in a tiny, dilapidated tin shack.